Page 50 of Recruited By the Billionaire

Frankie was surprised by the question. “No,” she said. But she also had no clue Robert had left the house. But it wasn’t something she’d discuss with anybody but Robert. “When did you get in town?” she asked Royce.

“Late last night. I called your cell phone and Mr. Marris answered. He said we could come over today. We thought we’d come by eleven, figuring you’d be up.”

Frankie was shocked. “It’s after eleven?”

“It’s after noon too,” said Taymar with a laugh.

“You slept your life away girl!” joked Royce.

“I guess I did,” Frankie said.

“But it’s understandable,” said Royce, “considering what you’ve been through.”

“I had to do it,” Frankie said point blank to her friends. “He had broken into my apartment while you was still there, Taymar.”

Taymar was shocked. “He did?” Then her heart dropped. “Oh Lord! I did forget to lock the door when I was hurrying to your bathroom. I forgot Frankie. He must have slipped in then.”

“He did,” said Frankie. “The pervert. It was self-defense.”

“You had no choice,” said Royce. “We know that girl. You don’t have to go there with us.”

Frankie smiled and hugged them again. They were like Robert, who didn’t’ need any explanation either. He never once asked if she did it in cold blood. Never once.

“Let’s sit down,” said Taymar. “I know you’re still upset.”

They walked over to the sofa. Frankie glanced over at Robert to try and see if he was still enthusiastically in her corner. He was all-in last night. Was that still the same today?

“Good afternoon,” Robert said to her as she and her girlfriends sat on the sofa.

Frankie felt ashamed. This man let her stay in his house, was giving his all for her, and she slept pass noon? “Good afternoon. I didn’t mean to sleep so late.”

“Trauma can do that to you,” Robert said. “It was needful.”

Frankie smiled. He was still on board.

Royce was impressed with Robert too. And not just because he was the finest white boy she’d ever seen. But she also knew what she read about him. And although she was keeping an open mind, she had her suspicions too. Because she couldn’t get pass thewhy. Why Frankie? Of all the ladies he could have, why was he interested in Frankie? Royce and Taymar loved Frankie to pieces. They knew her worth. But a shallow, self-centered, great-looking billionaire playboy knew it too? It seemed hard to believe that a man like that would settle for any one woman.

But she didn’t get a chance to ask him anything about it the way she normally would drill Frankie’s love interests (she wasthat girl) because, within minutes of Frankie’s appearance downstairs, the place was overrun with lawyers and aides and Laine and Jerry had arrived too. It was too chaotic for drills.

Royce and Taymar were shocked at how gorgeous every one of Robert’s aides were. And all in their twenties and snooty with it. They both wondered if they were more than aides to Robert.

But what shocked Frankie was when Robert told his lawyers that a statement wasn’t necessary.

“Not necessary?” Laine asked, astounded. “It’s absolutely necessary, Robert.”

Jerry agreed. “We’ve got to get ahead of this or it will stay ahead of us.”

“Did you meet with Commissioner Sperling this morning?” Laine asked him. “Is that what he said? That a statement wasn’t necessary?”

“You had a meeting with the commissioner already?” Jerry asked him. Frankie was surprised too.

“Yes, we’ve met,” said Robert. “And no, Laine, he agrees with you. He definitely wanted me to make a statement.”

“Then you should,” said Jerry, “or it could get ugly for us. You know how psychotic Sperling can be about the NFL’s image. He could get vindictive and encourage the other owners to vote you out of the league. That’s how serious this is, Robert.”

Royce looked at Frankie. She could tell how awful Frankie felt, especially hearing that Robert’s ownership was in jeopardy all because of her. Frankie was a proud woman who never liked to be anybody’s burden or problem. She wasn’t taking any of it very well. Royce placed her arm around her friend. She knew Frankie too well.

“It’s on, sir,” one of Robert’s aides said as she used a remote to turn on a big screen TV over the fireplace.

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